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Finnforest View Drop Down
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Points: 17309 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Finnforest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 28 2010 at 20:57
Well Lion, I have no time for serious delving into writing technique, I have too much to do.  But I took a quickie look at several reviews and will offer some general comments.  You enjoy writing, that I can tell by the length and the conversational tone.  Not everyone wants to read that much, but trying to please others is not necessarily the way to go.  Write as much as you want, but don't be any longer than you need to be.  I think people who have your taste in albums will begin to notice your reviews as they look around, and will probably enjoy the conversational style and reading what you have to say.  I have my fave reviewers and I do enjoy it when they go on about what they know well.  If I want quick info I will pick shorter reviews, but when reading for pleasure, i like long, talkative reviews. 

As a reader I have little use for the "best songs/worst songs" list, but I do like your letter grading.  It provides a bit more insight than the stars alone. 

Best advise....just keep writing.  Nothing makes one a better reviewers than writing lots of reviews.  Cheers!Wink
...that moment you realize you like "Mob Rules" better than "Heaven and Hell"
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I always like to have my reviews critiqued. Anyone want to critique them here? I recommend not reading my Falling Into Infinity or St. Anger reviews as I did not put an effort into those ones. Embarrassed
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It's OK how much effort did Metallica put into St Anger Wink
Though I did give it a 3 compare to the universal -5 so what do I know? LOL
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Points: 233 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tarkus1980 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 29 2010 at 09:36
"I'm admittedly a George Starostin/John Mcferrin review junkie"
 
 
Awesome. I'm a drug.
"History of Rock Written by the Losers."
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Originally posted by tarkus1980 tarkus1980 wrote:

"I'm admittedly a George Starostin/John Mcferrin review junkie"
 
 
Awesome. I'm a drug.
 

Sorry John. You only manufacture one of the drugs I take, man. Thanks for supplying me ever since I've been into prog. It means a lot. Smile

 

 

And thank you, Mr. Finnforest, for providing me with all of these great pointers. I've been a bit worried that my reviewing style needs more brevity to improve.  And I do suppose I should ixnay the best/worst songs thing, since it’s stolen… er I mean inspired  from like half a dozen independent review sites.  Embarrassed
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Points: 14258 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AtomicCrimsonRush Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 12 2010 at 03:25
Originally posted by LionRocker LionRocker wrote:

Hey everyone. I've posted 13 reviews of mainly jazz fusion and canterbury on PA so far.  I'm admittedly a George Starostin/John Mcferrin review junkie so my reviews are very in-depth and lengthy. I also take their stance of reviewing the emotional resonance I get from each album I listen to rather than the musical complexities and such. (Frankly, I have no knowledge of musical theory)
 
Anyway, I would love to have my reviews critiqued and picked apart for the benefit of improving my writing style, which may or may not be good.
I can have a look if you like but I don't take criticism well myself so not sure if I want my reviews critiqued!Shocked
 
 
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Points: 14258 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AtomicCrimsonRush Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 12 2010 at 03:48
OK, LionRocker, I  read the review on Caravan and the New Symphonia
 
My comments are in red:
 
 
The main theme of "To Catch Me a Brother" (the section right after the vocal part) has now metamorphosised from what was a single note electric piano riff to a brass theme that would make Richard Wagner gape. This part also has a really compelling fast flute solo (but no where near Ian Anderson "fast".) by Pye's bro, Jimmy Hastings followed by some furious fuzz box organ. The following "Subsultus" and "Debouchement" sections have also been changed from stagnated mucks to stunning peaks and climaxes with Pye and Richardson playing their hearts out on guitar and violin.
 
this section of review has some dynamic highly original musings and I like the strange use of wording on how you describe the instrumentation. Its quite unique and you shouldnt change or conform to other styles as thats whats so great about your reviews
 
My favorite of the pair is the latter because of the moody opening and the couple of violin riffs this songs possesses are dangerously infectious. Still, "Virgins" despite being the least energetic song on the album also contains some more fast, fuzzy fun courtesy of courtesy of David Sinclair and his organ.
 
Great! you mention your favourite part. This is necessary. You mention band members which is also great. There are typos - not so great so check the work. i am guilty too but i try to check everything these days. No typos gives you more creedence or professional respect in reviews. Otherwise it just looks like you bashed it out on a whim and did'nt care about it.   
 
The closing number is "For Richard" which now also has a much tighter set of arrangement buttocks, massively improves over the original. The original suite simply had me bored right from the start but now the various memorable parts of it have been picked out and massively emphasized by the orchestra. Even the dull melody-less singing part has now been spruced up a notch with small 'lil harp pluckings, violin strummings, and a melodic bass solo as well as audible vocals
 
Great to mention closing song and how it impacts the album, same with opening. Its important to gra the listener fromthe get go - and close with a bang! if not, the album suffers. I love the humour too, (tighter buttocks)  very cool and I never have read that type of coment so it jumps out and sticks in the memory. Humour works sometimes. (see my 'Ziltoid' review or the latest ELP compilation 'High Voltage' review for a start). You say here too what bores you so its honest just a gush of praise which is boring when there is too much of it. i like to know what can be improved too besides the excellent parts.
 
 Hot damn, if only they had this much enthusiasm in the studio...
 
nice conversational style. i dont like too much of this but occasionally I use it to flesh out an idea and make a point stick. i have tried to keep ME out of it, though its not easy. Lately I have put more of ME into it as it seems to be a trend around here but its not professional. I dont know, read a review online by a pro and it is all very slick and impersonal. It pays to try both types. I look at mey early reviews here and i am amazed how different they are. They are not good at times and i am glad i have at least improved over the years. i think your reviews are worth reading so great to have you doing it. the secret is... are you ready? heres the secret... keep writing. Thats it really just keep writing and you imporve. the problem with writers here is they just wont write! So keep writing and it will just come, it will fall into place and you will settle into your own style.
 
one more note:
 
This section below in your KID A review needs working on:
 
So, all you Floyd heads who believe the what the all the critics say better develop a taste in krautrock before buying this little piggy along with "OK Computer" for 15$ apiece at Best Buy.
 
 
 
cheers
 
ACR


Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - August 12 2010 at 04:08
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Tursake View Drop Down
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Hey, I've only made four reviews now and some of you might have even read my first review (or second) but I'd like to get your opinions on them so I could improve my reviewing style Smile

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Originally posted by AtomicCrimsonRush AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:

Originally posted by LionRocker LionRocker wrote:

Hey everyone. I've posted 13 reviews of mainly jazz fusion and canterbury on PA so far.  I'm admittedly a George Starostin/John Mcferrin review junkie so my reviews are very in-depth and lengthy. I also take their stance of reviewing the emotional resonance I get from each album I listen to rather than the musical complexities and such. (Frankly, I have no knowledge of musical theory)
 
Anyway, I would love to have my reviews critiqued and picked apart for the benefit of improving my writing style, which may or may not be good.
I can have a look if you like but I don't take criticism well myself so not sure if I want my reviews critiqued!Shocked
 
 


Thank you so much for the critique, ACR!  I'm happy there were parts you enjoyed. I'm really gunning for the almighty, ' big, tricked-out name tag' title of prog reviewer but I want to get it out of respect from submitting quality and (hopefully) perceptive sounding reviews. And yes, grammer is my arch nemesis but I shall conquer that fiend, one day. Hehe.

Just ask if you want any specific reviews critiqued or analyzed by me, ACR. I owe ya one.
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Triceratopsoil View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Easy Money Easy Money wrote:

Consider it deleted, thanks Jody.


:( but it was a laugh a minute
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AtomicCrimsonRush View Drop Down
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Points: 14258 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AtomicCrimsonRush Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 15 2010 at 04:39
Originally posted by LionRocker LionRocker wrote:

Originally posted by AtomicCrimsonRush AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:

Originally posted by LionRocker LionRocker wrote:

Hey everyone. I've posted 13 reviews of mainly jazz fusion and canterbury on PA so far.  I'm admittedly a George Starostin/John Mcferrin review junkie so my reviews are very in-depth and lengthy. I also take their stance of reviewing the emotional resonance I get from each album I listen to rather than the musical complexities and such. (Frankly, I have no knowledge of musical theory)
 
Anyway, I would love to have my reviews critiqued and picked apart for the benefit of improving my writing style, which may or may not be good.
I can have a look if you like but I don't take criticism well myself so not sure if I want my reviews critiqued!Shocked
 
 


Thank you so much for the critique, ACR!  I'm happy there were parts you enjoyed. I'm really gunning for the almighty, ' big, tricked-out name tag' title of prog reviewer but I want to get it out of respect from submitting quality and (hopefully) perceptive sounding reviews. And yes, grammer is my arch nemesis but I shall conquer that fiend, one day. Hehe.

Just ask if you want any specific reviews critiqued or analyzed by me, ACR. I owe ya one.
That OK. If you want to critique a review or two of mine go for the latest two I guess and see what you can make of it.
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Okay, Mr. ACR, I would simply like to say that your review of ELP's latest dupe on their fans so Greg Lake can afford to buy more friggin donuts was simply splendid.  You obliterate all of my reviews in terms of professional wording and grammer and you provide an in-depth analysis of all the aspects of this album that a casual fan such as myself  would care to know.  Really, just the sheer professionalism shown in the way you phrase things is great, you have a nice flow and everything.

My favorite part of the review is that you tackle BOTH the pros and the cons of this lousy cash grabber. You could just be saying that the whole compilation sucks and that it's a total rehash of a greatest hits album but those sneaky b*stards made it a 'washed-up reunion tour' live album so "hardcore" fans HAVE to buy it but nope. You tell us that the buyer gets a complete medley of the Pictures at the Exhibition live segment (completely with the more or less, aptly titled "Nut Rocker") and doesn't need to actually buy the album it's featured on if he or she buys this. You also say that all the music is in full form and not butchered and other positive qualities of the comp even if it truly only deserves two stars. Just putting an emphasis on both the good and bad sides of an abysmal album in a review is what really wins me over because many reviewers today only aim to trash dreck like this.

Phew, this is my first critique btw, and I  hope I analyzed enough of your review. You are truly worthy of your 'pro' prog reviewing status and I'll certainly read up on more of yours. Tomorrow, I'll go over your other review.
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Is THAT still there!Ermm
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^ yeah empowering change is one thing, Admin should delete the offensive reviews now.
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It's great that we have a thread for reviewing reviews, but now we need a thread to review the reviews of the reviews.
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Points: 34550 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JJLehto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 17 2010 at 01:56
Glad I'm not the only one that called you "Alt-uh-ear"
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This issue has been discussed somewhat tentatively before but...

can you review an album to which you openly admit to performing on ?

http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=297584

It's a very well balanced and objective appraisal certainly and I wouldn't for a second suggest the reviewer is being disingenuous in any shape or form but surely 'vested interest' must stretch to include a party with a performance credit ?




Edited by ExittheLemming - September 06 2010 at 03:18
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Originally posted by ExittheLemming ExittheLemming wrote:


This issue has been discussed somewhat tentatively before but...can you review an album to which you openly admit to performing on ?http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=297584It's a very well balanced and objective appraisal certainly and I wouldn't for a second suggest the reviewer is being disingenuous in any shape or form but surely 'vested interest' must stretch to include a party with a performance credit ?

Yes we do allow band members to review their own discs. If we don't allow it, then we get reviews that are obvious attempts to conceal that they are band members, such reviews are even more embarrassing.
I enjoyed reading between the lines on this one, I get the feeling the author felt that the decision to over-dub some of his vocals with someone else was not the way to go, ha ha.

Edited by Easy Money - September 06 2010 at 06:14
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Originally posted by Easy Money Easy Money wrote:


I enjoyed reading between the lines on this one, I get the feeling the author felt that the decision to over-dub some of his vocals with someone else was not the way to go, ha ha.


The short advertisment of his solo stuff at the end of the review is my favourite Tongue
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ExittheLemming View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Easy Money Easy Money wrote:

Originally posted by ExittheLemming ExittheLemming wrote:


This issue has been discussed somewhat tentatively before but...can you review an album to which you openly admit to performing on ?http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=297584It's a very well balanced and objective appraisal certainly and I wouldn't for a second suggest the reviewer is being disingenuous in any shape or form but surely 'vested interest' must stretch to include a party with a performance credit ?

Yes we do allow band members to review their own discs. If we don't allow it, then we get reviews that are obvious attempts to conceal that they are band members, such reviews are even more embarrassing.
I enjoyed reading between the lines on this one, I get the feeling the author felt that the decision to over-dub some of his vocals with someone else was not the way to go, ha ha.


Yep, it's a 'significantly lesser' of two evils that does make sense once I thought it through properly.
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